Match demands of female team sports: a scoping review

This scoping review aimed to characterize and quantify the external load demands of professional female team sports, in terms of total distance [TD], moderate-speed [MSR] and high-speed running [HSR], sprint, accelerations [ACC], and decelerations [DEC]. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until 15/04/2023. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was used. Eighty-six articles were eligible for inclusion in this review, with 40 in soccer, 23 in rugby (6 rugby union, 3 rugby league, and 14 rugby sevens), 8 in field hockey, 8 in basketball, 6 in handball, and 1 in futsal. Soccer is the most investigated sport, and players perform ~9500 m TD, of which ~580 m is performed in HSR, and with a great number of ACC, DEC, and sprints. Rugby league and union players cover a greater distance (~5450 m) when compared to rugby sevens (~1550 m); however, rugby sevens is more demanding in terms of high-intensity actions. Field hockey players perform ~5400 m TD with high-intensity and sprint actions. Women’s indoor sports are less studied, and basketball players cover ~5300 m TD, of which 7% is performed in MSR. Handball players perform ~3500 m TD and cover ~423 m in MSR and ~141 m in HSR, and futsal players perform ~5 m × min−1 in HSR and they do a great number of high-intensity activities (HSR, ACC, and DEC). Considering the high physical demands experienced by female athletes, professionals could use the present results for training and return to competition schedules.


INTRODUCTION
Female team sports' participation and popularity have increased considerably in the last decade [1].This increase has attracted more sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, and medical staff into the field [1][2][3][4].However, a recent scoping review [5] about external load monitoring with wearable technology from 2015 to 2020 reported that only 16.2% of the investigations were carried out with female athletes, compared to 80.6% with male counterparts.Moreover, current sports performance methods and strategies in female team sports are often supported by evidence derived from male athletes [3,4].Consequently, sport practitioners should understand better the physiological and mechanical demands during match play in female team sports [6].
The external load represents the basic measurement of a monitoring system [7] and expresses the activities performed by an athlete [8] independently of its internal characteristics (i.e., internal load) [9].
The consensus statement of the International Olympic Committee on load in sports and risk of injury states that a successful training load monitoring system is fundamental to ensure the adaptation to stress, maximize physical performance, and possibly minimize the risk of injury [10].In team sports, physical activity can be registered by different tracking systems, such as global positioning systems (GPS), local positioning systems (LPS), inertial measurement units (IMU), and games and/or drills; and 4) scored < 8 in methodological quality assessment.

Study selection
The initial search was carried out by two researchers (MLPA and KS).
After the elimination of duplicates, an intensive review of all titles and abstracts obtained was completed and those not related to the review's topic were discarded.The full version of the remaining articles was read.All studies not meeting the inclusion criteria were excluded.

Data extraction
Data were extracted into a custom-made Microsoft Excel sheet (2007) by one author (MLPA), with two other authors (KS and PEA) checking for the accuracy.The results were selected with the following order: participant's information (i.e., sample size, age, height, weight), number of matches, country, equipment used (i.e., device brand, model details, sampling frequency (Hz), according to recommendations for the collecting, processing and reporting of data from GPS devices [26] external load metrics (i.e., TD, distance at MSR [12.6-19.8 HSR [19.8-25.2km • h −1 ], and sprinting [ ≥ 25.2 km • h −1 ], ACC, DEC, Pload).The mean and standard deviation (SD) were extracted for all the variables, and presented as full match-play.Intensity thresholds for ACC and DEC were presented.A meta-analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneous nature of sport specific study designs and inability to pool data.

Risk of bias
The risk of bias was evaluated independently by two authors (MLPA and KS), who reanalysed the process in cases of disagreement.If a consensus was not reached, a final decision was made by a third author (PEA).The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was utilized to evaluate the included studies' risk of bias, as it has demonstrated moderate reliability and good feasibility and validity [27].The tool comprises six domains, which are the selection of participants, confounding variables, measurement of exposure, blinding of outcome assessments, incomplete outcome data, and selective outcome reporting, and these domains are classified as 'low', 'high', or 'unclear' risk of bias [27].

Methodological quality assessment
The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by two researchers (MLPA and KS) using the modified Downs & Black [28] evaluation scale.Of the total 27 criteria, 12 were used according to the study's design (i.e., descriptive), as observed in similar systematic reviews [13,14,29].

Search results
Figure 1 depicts the PRISMA flow diagram of the search and selection process.The initial databases yielded 1175 studies, and from six different team sports (soccer, rugby, field hockey, basketball, handball, and futsal).The aim of this scoping review was to characterize and quantify the demands of external load (i.e., TD, moderatespeed running [MSR], HSR, sprint, ACC, DEC, and Pload) in professional female multi-directional team sports and highlight the importance of research on female sport [4,23].

Protocol and registration
The scoping review protocol was preliminarily submitted and published on the Open Science Framework, with the registration number 10.17605/OSF.IO/E4H9M on 29 th April 2023.

Study design
The present study is a scoping review focused on the match demands of professional women's team sports (i.e., soccer, rugby, field hockey, basketball, handball, and futsal) measured with a tracking system.
The review was carried out in accordance with the recommendations for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) [24] and did not require institutional review board approval.

Data sources and searches
A scoping review of the literature was performed using three different online databases -PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science -until April 15 th , 2023.In order to ensure that all research related to this topic was identified, a broad and general search was carried out, searching for the following terms: [("match analysis" OR "GPS" OR "demands" OR "external load") AND ("basketball"/ "field hockey"/ "football OR soccer"/ "handball"/ "rugby"/ "futsal") AND ("female" OR "women") NOT "male"], to ensure that all studies related to this topic were identified, and the search was repeated for each sport individually.This search was performed by two authors (MLPA and KS), and search results were uploaded to reference management software (Zotero) where duplicates were automatically removed.All titles and abstracts of all remaining studies were screened by two authors (MLPA and KS) using the eligibility criteria below.Any disagreements about study inclusion/ exclusion that could not be resolved between the two authors were decided by a third party (PEA).

Eligibility criteria
Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: 1) a sample of highly trained and competitive/professional female athletes according to classification of levels of competition adapted from Russell et al. [25], aged > 18 years; 2) competing in soccer, rugby, field hockey, basketball, handball, and futsal; and lastly 3) incorporating tracking systems (i.e., GPS, LPS, TMA or IMU) and analysing some external load variables (i.e., TD, distance per zone, ACC, DEC, Pload).

Risk of bias
The results of the risk of bias assessment can be seen in Table 1.
Overall the confounding variables were unclear in the majority (64%) of the articles.This is because contextual factors (e.g., sleep, nutrition, training, climate) were not reported or not controlled for.The risk of bias in the measurement of exposure was unclear in 16% of the articles and high in 13%, as assessments of demands were not conducted over a considerable period of time (> 4 matches) or in relation to the reliability of the measurement instrument.All included studies had a low risk of bias in the selection of participants.

Futsal
In futsal, only one study met the inclusion criteria [116].Five matches were monitored using LPS.The players covered a mean of † A more inclusive/heterogeneous term used to account for the different types of evidence or data sources (e.g., quantitative and/or qualitative research, expert opinion, and policy documents) that may be eligible in a scoping review as opposed to only studies.This is not to be confused with information sources (see first footnote).‡ The frameworks by Arksey and O'Malley (6) and Levac and colleagues (7) and the JBI guidance (4,5) refer to the process of data extraction in a scoping review as data charting.

INTRODUCTION
§ The process of systematically examining research evidence to assess its validity, results, and relevance before using it to inform a decision.This term is used for items 12 and 19 instead of "risk of bias" (which is more applicable to systematic reviews of interventions) to include and acknowledge the various sources of evidence that may be used in a scoping review (e.g., quantitative and/or qualitative research, expert opinion, and policy document).
Del coso et al.
(2013) [89] Rugby sevens Spain-Netherlands      [95] Field hockey N-R 30      A recent meta-analysis [121] found that male sevens players covered 1100-2486 m of TD, 77-121 m × min −1 , ~449 m in MSR and ~190 m in HSR -greater distance than women players, especially at high speeds.The same was observed in rugby league and union male players, who performed greater distances [122,123].Female rugby players completed a mean of 7 and 5 sprints per match in rugby league/union and rugby sevens respectively.The variability of results may be explained by positional differences of rugby demands (i.e., backs, forwards) and the differences in the sports' rules and discipline.Therefore, reference values from different rugby disciplines are important, especially when players interchange within rugby sports, or return to play following a long-term injury or illness.
In field hockey, TD covered was similar in studies, ~5403 m [94][95][96][97][98][99]101], of which ~823 m were in MSR, ~466 m in HSR and ~371 m in sprinting.Slightly lower results were found by James et al. [124] in male players (TD = ~4861 m; > 14.5 km × h −1 = ~1193 m; > 19 km × h −1 = ~402 m).Elite female field hockey players performed a mean of ~39 sprints, ~26 ACC and ~32 DEC actions; however, male field hockey players [124] reported that they performed ~21 sprints, ~50 ACC and ~60 DEC actions per match.Coaches and physical trainers may know the demands that competition requires, and in consequence these values can help to better understand the efforts that hockey players make during the competition.This would make it possible to compare the physical level with elite hockey reference values and draw the lines of work for both conditioning and recovery; however, more research is needed.
In female basketball, the TD covered was 7039 m, using TMA [82], and similar results were obtained for male players in a systematic review [125] (TD = ~7558 m) when the same system was used.
Reina et al. [109] used LPS and found that women players covered 3531 m.The studies indicated that the proportion of movement performed by female basketball players was: MSR ~16%, HSR ~7%, and sprinting ~7%; while male players covered ~40% in MSR, ~25% in HSR, and ~0.4% in sprinting [125].Also, elite female basketball players did ~35 sprint actions per match [105,108].Although few studies are available, these values can help to better understand the demands of elite women's basketball, and further investigation is warranted.

DISCUSSION
This scoping review provides an overview of research on the physical demands of female athletes in elite team sports.Football was the most researched sport.In contrast, women's indoor sports have been less researched.In particular, GPS have emerged as the main devices used to monitor the physical demands of outdoor team sports (i.e., soccer, rugby, field hockey) and, on the other hand, accelerometers and TMA have been more commonly used to measure the physical demands of indoor sports (i.e., basketball, handball, futsal).
It should be noted that the demands of matches vary significantly between sports, as each sport has its own characteristics and requirements.Therefore, a thorough understanding of the physical demands of different team sports is crucial to optimise training and performance, reduce the risk of injury and improve player well-being.
Considering female soccer, TD covered were ~9556 m and 103 ± 6 m × min −1 when considered in relative distance.Similar results were obtained in a previous meta-analysis [118] but with male players.Regarding intensity zones, there was observed high variability in MSR (range: 570-2520 m), HSR (range: 101-1490 m), and sprinting (range: 22-995 m).This could be explained by the differences in devices (TMA vs. GPS), sampling frequencies (i.e.1-15 Hz) or ranges of velocity used.The same was observed when relative distance in MSR (6-27 m × min −1 ) was analysed.Although the number of sprints was reported, no previous consensus was established about the velocity that should be considered (e.g.> 21 km × h −1 -> 25 km × h −1 ); this phenomenon could explain the differences in results (9-70 number of sprint), and it was repeated in male studies as well [16].In relation to the ACC and DEC actions, these variables can be strongly influenced by the device used and its sensitivity, as well as the duration of the action to be considered as ACC or DEC (i.e.2-3 seconds) [119].Studies [32-35, 41, 43, 54, 56, 63, 65] revealed that players performed a range of 8-423 and 15-430 in ACC-DEC actions per match respectively, while male soccer players performed about 64 ACC and 58 DEC actions per match (2-3 m × s −1 ) [120].Knowledge of the demands of elite women's soccer matches can be very useful for coaches, physical trainers, and physiotherapists to plan tailor-made training and return-to-play sessions.
The maximum DEC was ~-6 m × s −2 and ~28 DEC × min −1 was performed.However, male futsal players presented higher match demands when compared to female futsal players [29].Given that, methods and strategies in female's team sports should not be supported by evidence derived from male athletes.There is limited evidence available regarding external load monitoring in indoor sports.This could be attributed to the fact that many indoor sports are practised in confined spaces, which makes it challenging to use tracking and monitoring devices compared to outdoor sports (due to e.g.high cost, complex installation, variables) [128,129].
Each tracking technology has unique approaches to monitoring athletes, resulting in distinct advantages and disadvantages when tracking external load; therefore, it is essential to consider how the technology and its manufacturer process data within the context of the sport [11].
It should be noted that there are a number of contextual factors (i.e., team characteristics, style of play, opponent characteristics, moods, starter/non-starter, competition situations and venue) that may have influenced the variability of the data [130,131].The context can significantly affect the performance of the players and, therefore, the results obtained through the tracking system.It is important for staff to consider these variables when analysing the demands of competition and the variation that can occur from match to match.Therefore, it is recommended to avoid drawing absolute conclusions from a single measurement and instead analyse multiple data points to gain an overall understanding of the demands of competition.
On the other hand, this study established specific speed ranges for MSR, HSR, and sprinting to simplify the summary and comparison of results regarding the distance covered.However, the selection of speed thresholds lacks consensus, particularly regarding external load monitoring with wearable devices for female athletes.
While most studies have focused on male athletes, some have suggested that speed thresholds set for men may not be applicable for women due to underestimation of efforts and inaccuracy of results [86,132,133].Therefore, the authors recommend using relative thresholds in monitoring with wearable devices for better interpretation of results.Considering individual athlete performance and the use of absolute thresholds allows for a broader comparison and establishment of general goals [86,[134][135][136].Consequently, further evidence is needed to determine whether female athletes require a different external load control approach than male athletes and whether it differs between sports.
Another point to consider is the definition of "elite" status in sports, which is a complex issue depending on several factors [137].Generally, elite athletes are those who have achieved a high level of performance in their sport and compete at a professional level or in international competitions; criteria such as world ranking in a given sport discipline, history of achievement in major competitions, Olympic medal winning, or participation in national teams could be used [138,139].Nonetheless, defining elite status in sport can be challenging because it can vary depending on the sport and country in question [137].Additionally, the level of performance required to be considered an elite athlete may change over time as sports evolve and athletes become stronger and faster [140,141].
This study is limited by the lack of consistency of the devices (i.e., GPS, TMA, LPS), thresholds of different actions (i.e.zones of intensity, sprint, ACC, DEC), and sampling frequencies (1-15 Hz) that have been used.Lower sampling frequencies (e.g. 1 Hz, 5 Hz) have been shown to be less reliable than 10 Hz [119,142], whereas with 10 Hz, the occurrence of high-intensity ACC and DEC actions can be obtained reliably, although distance and time-related variables are less reliable [119,143].The data filtering technique used by different software and upgrades can also influence the quality, reliability, and usefulness of the data [143,144].In addition, the minimum time that an ACC or DEC action must stabilize above the threshold to be determined as effort could generate inaccuracies in the frequencies of ACC and DEC of greater intensity [145].Depending on the variables analysed, in elite female athletes, analysing between 3 and 9 matches, less than 10% error was found for profiling [146].
Finally, the present study did not consider positional differences or other variables (e.g., impacts, ACC and DEC zones, and peak velocity, among others) that might be of interest.Therefore, practitioners and researchers should carefully consider the methodology used and the criteria used to delineate the variables of interest.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this systematic review provides information regarding the match demands of elite female team sports.Soccer is the most investigated sport; female players perform ~9500 m TD; also they do ~580 m in HSR with a great number of ACC, DEC, and sprints.Rugby league and union players cover a greater distance (~5450 m) when compared to rugby sevens (~1550 m); however, rugby sevens is more demanding in terms of high-intensity actions.Women's field hockey players perform ~5400 m TD; also, it is a high-intensity sport, with high-speed and sprint actions.
Women's indoor sports are less studied, which could be due to the difficulty and high cost of measuring the external load indoors.
Female basketball players cover ~5300 m TD, of which 7% are in MSR.In handball, elite women's players perform ~3500 m TD; also, they cover ~423 m in MSR and ~141 m in HSR.Finally, female elite futsal players perform ~5 m × min −1 in HSR and they do a great number of high-intensity activities (i.e., HSR, ACC, and DEC actions).We consider that the results obtained from the existing research on the competitive demands of female athletes in team sports should be considered as a starting point, while keeping in mind the limitations discussed earlier.Additionally, it is important

TABLE 4 .
Continue.94 m × min −1 .Considering distances, female rugby league and union players covered 934 m and 114 m in MSR and HSR, respectively, whilst sevens elite female players performed 355 m in MSR, 165 m in HSR, and 108 m in sprinting.
funding for the included sources of evidence, as well as sources of funding for the scoping review.Describe the role of the funders of the scoping review.
178 Results of individual sources of evidence 17 For each included source of evidence, present the relevant data that were charted that relate to the review questions and objectives.195 Note: JBI = Joanna Briggs Institute; PRISMA-ScR = Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.* Where sources of evidence (see second footnote) are compiled from, such as bibliographic databases, social media platforms, and Web sites.

TABLE . Continue . TABLE 1 .
Risk of bias assessment of non-randomized studies.

TABLE 2 .
Summary of the match demands in soccer.
*Percentage of total time.B Percentage of total distance.ACC: accelerations; DEC: decelerations; GPS: global positions system; HSR: high-speed running; MSR: moderate-speed running; N-R: no reported; TD: total distance; TMA: time-motion analysis; USA: United States of America.

TABLE 3 .
Summary of the match demands of rugby union and sevens and field hockey.

TABLE 4 .
Summary of the match demands of basketball, handball, and futsal.